how to be a immigration lawyer

What Is an Immigration Lawyer?

• Step 1: Research Immigration Lawyer Career Duties and Education. An immigration lawyer enables immigrants to live and work in the U.S. by helping them ...
• Step 2: Obtain a Bachelor's Degree.
• Step 3: Graduate from Law School.
• Step 4: Pass the Bar Exam.
• Step 5: Join an Immigration Lawyer Association.

Full Answer

What are the requirements to become an immigration lawyer?

Mar 08, 2021 · How to become an immigration lawyer To become an immigration lawyer and start working with your first clients, follow the steps listed below: 1. Earn a bachelor's degree Before attending law school, future lawyers first obtain a bachelor's degree.

What education is needed to become an immigration lawyer?

Aug 18, 2021 · If you're interested in becoming an Immigration Lawyer, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 52.4% of Immigration Lawyers have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 4.8% of Immigration Lawyers have master's degrees.

How long does it take to become and immigration lawyer?

Sep 18, 2021 · The path toward becoming a successful Immigration lawyer requires a lot of effort, but it is a rewarding career option. Given below is a list of programs that will provide a base to meet your licensing requirements: Graduate Diploma in Migration Law LLM in Immigration Law BA LL.B Juris Degree (J.D.) LL.M. in International Human Right Law

How can I become an immigration attorney?

How can you become an immigration lawyer? Regardless of the eventual practice area, completing a bachelor’s degree is the usual first step in becoming a lawyer, followed by earning a juris doctor (JD) degree.

How to get into law school?

Pick a major that you're interested in. There's no pre-law undergraduate major, so law schools don't require you to have a certain major to gain admission. Take useful classes. The best classes to take will emphasize writing, reading, and critical thinking. Foreign language classes can also be helpful.

Where did the majority of immigrants come from in 2013?

Large numbers of immigrants also came from Vietnam, China, the Philippines, India and Korea. Immigration to the US from Asian countries has continued to grow for several years and represents the largest group of immigrants to the US.

What are some ways to meet practitioners in the field?

Attend an annual conference to rub shoulders with establish immigration attorneys. The continuing legal education courses offered by professional organizations are a great way to supplement your law school education.

What is an immigration lawyer?

An immigration lawyer is a legal professional who helps people from other countries who wish to live, work or study within the United States. Immigration laws are typically very complex, and the average person often needs legal assistance to fully understand them. Immigration lawyers work with people regardless of their resident status.

How does immigration law impact a person's life?

Immigration law has the potential to impact a person's life in many ways, such as the ability to work or run a business, pay their taxes and take care of their families. Immigration lawyers may occasionally work on criminal cases as well. Some common types of cases for immigration lawyers include:

What to do after a bachelor's degree?

After graduating with a bachelor's degree, it's time to pursue your J.D. from a law school. If you have the option, it's helpful to choose a concentration or specialization in immigration law to better prepare yourself for your future career.

What are the fields of study for lawyers?

Political science. Economics. International studies. These fields of study cover topics such as labor laws, the politics of immigration and the most common reasons for immigration. They also provide you with strong writing and critical thinking skills, from which all lawyers benefit. 2. Obtain a J.D.

How much will the number of lawyers grow in the next 10 years?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a 4% expected growth rate in the number of all lawyers for the next ten years, which is the average anticipated growth rate for most occupations in that time frame.

What to do after graduation?

Throughout your studies and after graduation, it's essential to gain hands-on experience, as many clients and employers look for this when considering who to hire. Whenever possible, seek out internships, volunteer opportunities and part-time jobs that allow you to gain exposure to anything related to your specialization. While any experience working with the law is good, future employers and clients may prefer experience with immigration law.

How much do immigration lawyers make?

Immigration Lawyers in America make an average salary of $93,406 per year or $45 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $178,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $48,000 per year.

What are the best states to work as an immigration lawyer?

The best states for people in this position are New York, Massachusetts, Washington, and Vermont. Immigration lawyers make the most in New York with an average salary of $138,636. Whereas in Massachusetts and Washington , they would average $123,400 and $116,134, respectively. While immigration lawyers would only make an average of $108,463 in Vermont, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.

Who is an Immigration Lawyer?

An immigration lawyer is a legal personnel specialised in resolving issues related to citizenship denials, appealing citizenship denials and obtaining visas. In order to become successful in the arena, one needs to stay well-informed with the migration laws of different countries and the process to apply for the same.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility conditions for law courses usually vary as per the program and university you have chosen. Most students opt for BA LLB or LLB programs to become a lawyer. Later, students can go for LLM specializations after finishing their bachelor’s.

Required Skills

To become an Immigration lawyer, one must possess certain skills in order to do justice to the field. Even though most of the skills can be developed over a period of time, after completing a degree in the field. Some skills need to be built by the candidates who aspire to become a successful Immigration lawyer. Given below are some of them:

Popular Courses for Immigration

The path toward becoming a successful Immigration lawyer requires a lot of effort, but it is a rewarding career option. Given below is a list of programs that will provide a base to meet your licensing requirements:

Top University to Become an Immigration Lawyer

There are various educational institutions that offer diplomas, bachelor’s and master’s programs in Immigration law and its related courses. Given below is a list of one of the top law colleges across the world:

Job Prospects

The demand for Immigration lawyers in every corner of the world has increased the career opportunities for students pursuing a course in the very field. Studying a course in the very field from renowned universities abroad have various benefits. Let’s look at some of the job profiles, which students can pursue after completion of course:

What skills do immigration attorneys need?

In many situations, strong interpersonal skills are also needed. During any given day in immigration practice, an attorney may work with people who have undergone exceptionally traumatic experiences, including suffering persecution, human trafficking, or torture.

What do immigration lawyers do?

Immigration lawyers may represent clients in administrative courts, or they may counsel clients about their legal rights and obligations related to immigration, among other things. They also suggest courses of action based on their knowledge of immigration law.

What is the American Immigration Lawyers Association?

Another helpful resource is the American Immigration Lawyers Association, a national organization of more than 15,000 attorneys and educators who practice and teach immigration law. This nonpartisan nonprofit provides continuing legal education, information, and professional services.

Why is immigration law important?

Because immigration law provides you with a foundation to represent people who have immigration matters to resolve, but it also allows you to recognize how a person’s immigration status might impact them in many seemingly unrelated ways.

What is an attorney who accepts a position with a small immigration nonprofit?

An attorney who accepts a position with a small immigration nonprofit, for example, may choose that option with the understanding that while the salary is lower than average, the work offers the opportunity to serve people in life-altering situations who lack the resources to obtain legal assistance otherwise.

How much do lawyers make?

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the median annual wage for all lawyers is about $120,000. Median salaries top $140,000 for those employed by the federal government, while pay for state and local government ranges from $85,000 to $93,000 annually.

What are the skills required for ABA?

Among them are analytical thinking, problem-solving, critical reading, writing and editing, oral communication, listening skills, and research . The ABA also recommends getting involved in pursuits related to public service, promotion of justice, relationship-building, and collaboration.

How long does it take to become an immigration lawyer?

All told, an aspiring immigration lawyer needs a total of seven years of full-time study after high school to obtain a Juris Doctor degree . He will also need a few more months to pass the bar exam and meet local bar association requirements. Those who pass the bar exam on their first try can be licensed as attorneys about seven and a half years after graduating from high school.

Do immigration lawyers take bar exams?

Most US law schools offer few if any courses in immigration law. Additionally, immigration law is ignored on my state bar exams and bar review courses. Because of this, and because few immigration cases are published, the typical immigration lawyer’s knowledge comes from hands-on practice experience. The lawyer may start his career in a junior position at an immigration law firm, work his way up, and perhaps even open his own law office.

Is immigration law politically sensitive?

Immigration law is one of the most politically sensitive areas of law, and it can change with astonishing rapidity. Changes in immigration law have proceeded at a dizzying pace during the Trump administration, for example. It is for this reason that when you select an immigration lawyer, you should choose a candidate with recent experience in ...

Is immigration law federal or state law?

Jurisdictional Freedom. Immigration law is federal law, not state law. As a consequence, obtaining a license to practice law in any state will entitle you to practice immigration law anywhere in the United States without taking the time to join that state’s bar association.

Can an immigration lawyer practice in any area of law?

Since the US does not offer separate licenses for different legal practice areas (with limited exceptions), an immigration lawyer is typically entitled to practice in any area of law, and many immigration lawyers do exactly that. Be wary of this type of “jack of all trades” lawyer. Immigration lawyers perform the following tasks, among others:

Is immigration taxing?

The US immigration process can be highly taxing and difficult. When you are navigating through the thorny process, you will want the best lawyer to guide you through all steps.

Do immigration lawyers charge by the hour?

Immigration law firms typically charge by the hour. However, some law firms charge fixed fees for the standard preparing and filing of your case. Opt always to pay a fixed fee for a law firm’s services or else require that they give you an estimation of how much time it will take to file your case so that you know how much their services will cost you in terms of time and money.

Can a lawyer handle immigration?

For the same reasons, only an actual, practicing lawyer should be trusted to handle your immigration matters. Unfortunately, many non-lawyers; even some well-meaning ones, who don't recognize how complex this area of law really is; claim to be capable of assisting foreigners who need help with the immigration process.

Can an attorney guarantee success?

Not even the best attorneys can guarantee success. Ultimately, the outcome of your case is up to an immigration judge, the Department of Homeland Defense and/or USCIS. Any attorney claiming he or she has a 100% success rate and guaranteeing you a particular outcome may need to be more closely evaluated.

Is it ethical to hire a low value immigration attorney?

A few "high-volume, low value" immigration attorneys prowl the hallways of immigration offices attempting to solicit business. This is not considered ethical behavior by the legal bar. Besides, any good immigration attorney is probably going to be too busy practicing immigration law and working for their clients to spend their time rounding up new clients this way.